Add/Drop Information

Students may make most schedule changes through the first five days of class using the AccessPlus registration system. Procedures for schedule changes vary by the time period of the semester. The effective date of a schedule change is the date when the change is entered into the registration system. After the first week of classes, you will need a drop/add slip, which can be obtained from your adviser.

Please note: Adding or dropping classes may cause your status to change from part-time, half-time or full-time and may affect your academic or financial aid status. Please speak with your adviser and financial aid office if you have concerns.

Veterans: Making schedule changes may affect your military education benefits. Before making schedule changes, please check with a V.A. certifying official. Contact information

This tutorial explains how to fill out the add/drop slip (schedule change form) when adding and/or dropping a class after the first five days of classes. Add/Drop slips may be obtained from your adviser.

Please note: add/drop slips should be processed within 5 working days. Remember to make sure you stay within the credit limit and that you have allowable drops.

Second week of classes through the Fri. of week 10 in the fall and spring semesters. Adviser and instructor signatures required. Approved drops other than administrative go on permanent record and count toward drop limit.
Please note: College of Business does not require adviser signature for all majors except P Bus. P Bus requires adviser and Instructor signatures.

Anytime after 2nd period. Permitted only for extenuating circumstances. May require a written statement from the instructor and the student. Must be approved by the dean of the student's college or authorized representative. Drops other than administrative go on permanent record and count toward drop limit.

Period Definitions for Full-Term Courses

First Week/Period 1

Ends on the fifth day of classes in the fall and spring semesters.
Schedule changes during period 1 are free and do not require adviser signatures. Instructor or departmental approval may be required for adds or section changes for some courses during period 1. Course drops during this period do not count toward a student's ISU course drop limit, and will not appear on a student's permanent record. Schedule changes during period 1 may be processed through the AccessPlus registration system or by presenting a Schedule Change form to the Registrar's Student Scheduling Office, 10 Enrollment Services Center.

Period 2

Ends the Friday of week 10 in the fall and spring semesters.
During this period, schedule changes require signatures of adviser and instructor and are processed on a Schedule Change form. Course drops after period 1 count toward a student's ISU drop limit and appear as an X on the permanent record. A section change does not require a drop.

Drops and other schedule changes that are judged to be beyond the student's control may be processed as administrative actions if approved by the college dean. Administrative drops do not count toward a student's ISU drop limit and do not appear as an X on the permanent record. The effective date of an administrative action is the date it is approved by the college dean or authorized representative.

Period 3

Anytime after period 2.
Schedule changes during this period are permitted only for extenuating circumstances, may require a written statement of support from the instructor and the student, and must be approved by the dean of the student's college or authorized representative.

Additional Schedule Change Information

Auditing Courses

To audit a course means to enroll in the course without receiving credit for the course. The instructor of the course must approve the audit request. Students must register for audits by the 10th day of the semester for full semester courses. Students are assessed tuition and fees as though they are taking the course for credit, but the audited course does not count in determining full-time student status. However, an audited course does count towards the maximum allowable credits per semester. Audited courses do not apply toward V.A. benefits. More information

Half-Semester and Partial Term Courses

Specific deadlines for adding and dropping half-semester courses can be found on the university academic calendar page and by clicking on "Details" for the desired semester. Prorated adjustments to add and drop deadlines are made for other partial term courses. To find out specific deadlines for partial term courses, contact the Registrar's Student Scheduling Office, 10 Enrollment Services Center, registrar@iastate.edu.

Restriction Waivers

Enrollment in some courses is restricted to certain student populations. If you would like this restriction waived, you will need to request permission from the instructor or department that offers the course. They will need to sign the add/drop slip in the waiver section. There must also still be a seat available in the course at the time of processing this schedule change.

R-Credit Courses (required courses)

Processing a scheduling change for a required course is usually considered administrative. Administrative drops do not count toward a student's ISU drop limit and do not appear as an X on the permanent record. To make a Period 3 R-credit drop administrative requires approval of the college dean.

Pass/Not Pass Grading

Students may choose to take a maximum of 9 semester credit hours on a Pass-Not Pass basis, meaning that only a P or NP will be recorded as their final grade in the course. The purpose of P-NP grading is to encourage students to broaden their education by taking courses outside the usual program of study for their major and minor disciplines. More information

Summer Term Courses

Because the summer term is condensed and offers a variety of course start and end dates, it is best to contact the Office of the Registrar scheduling area in 10 Enrollment Services Center for deadlines.

Drop Limit

Students are limited in the number of courses they may drop during their academic career. (This refers to drops processed after the fifth day of classes of each semester.) Students who entered Iowa State University as freshmen are allowed to drop a maximum of five courses during their undergraduate career. If they entered at a level above freshman classification or in the College of Veterinary Medicine, they are allowed to drop a maximum of four courses. Courses dropped during their first term at Iowa State are not included in this limit, nor does the summer count as a first term for this purpose. Students who enroll at Iowa State University as undergraduates after receiving a bachelor's degree are permitted four drops.

Exceptions to the drop limit may be made for courses that must be dropped for reasons beyond the student's control. These exceptions are granted only by the dean or other authorized person in the student's college.

The number of drops students have left is indicated on their grade report (available on AccessPlus) each term. Students are responsible for not exceeding their limit. At the instructor's discretion, students who attempt to drop a course beyond the limit without special permission by the dean of the student's college will continue to be enrolled in the course and will receive a grade at the end of the term.

Cancelling or Withdrawing

Canceling your registration means you are dropping ALL your courses before the first day of the term. Other deadlines apply for some courses such as second half term courses. Withdrawing from the university means that you are dropping ALL your classes on or after the first day of the term.